“Lord Liu… I have said many times that we, as sovereigns and ministers of the Great Zhou, need not be so formal with each other! Let us eat!” During the meal, Bai Qingyan again told Liu Rushi about the matter of Tianfeng Kingdom’s envoys coming. Liu Rushi felt there was nothing to worry about. Since the Tianfeng Kingdom was coming for peace talks, let them come to negotiate. Having their demands laid out openly would be better to guard against than having them scheme in the shadows.

After Liu Rushi left, Bai Qingyan had Chun Tao clear away the evening meal and sent someone to summon Zeng Shanru.

After the battle with Tianfeng Kingdom, Bai Qingyan had ordered people to dismantle part of those Tianfeng weapons and the armor from the giant elephants and send them to Zeng Shanru, asking him to examine whether these elephant armor and weapons were as indestructible as the weapons and armor forged from the black powder that Bai Jintong had brought back.

Bai Qingyan thought that Tianfeng Kingdom might have had reservations about Cui Fengnian, this foreign merchant, and would not have allowed him to take military-grade black powder out of Tianfeng Kingdom. So Bai Qingyan had Zeng Shanru take the Tianfeng weapons and elephant armor to study together with the Tianfeng craftsman who had been sent back by Bai Jintong.

Before Zeng Shanru could arrive, Bai Qingyan’s teacher, Elder Guan Yongchong, came first.

Bai Qingyan immediately set down her brush and personally went to the palace gates to welcome him. Accompanying Elder Guan Yongchong was Elder Min Qianqiu.

She had heard that during this period, Elder Min Qianqiu had been staying with Elder Guan Yongchong at the Bamboo Grove Retreat. The two would discuss scholarly matters and play chess in their leisure time. Elder Guan Yongchong would also tell Elder Min Qianqiu about the Bai family’s affairs. Elder Min Qianqiu was still busy writing the Bai family biography, mainly because many of the things Bai Qingyan had done later were earth-shattering and worthy of being recorded by Elder Min Qianqiu in his writings.

Bai Qingyan personally invited the two elders into the great hall. She did not sit in the head position as befitted an emperor, but sat facing the two great scholars.

Wei Zhong served hot tea to the two scholars, then withdrew, instructing Chun Tao to stand by and await orders. Wei Zhong himself took hot tea and refreshments to meet with the attendants and grooms of Elder Guan Yongchong and Elder Min Qianqiu.

Hearing that the two elders had come regarding the matter of the national wager, Bai Qingyan did not interrupt but quietly listened to Elder Guan Yongchong finish speaking before carefully explaining her own thoughts to him.

Elder Min Qianqiu stared at Bai Qingyan. He could tell that she had both the background and groundwork for this matter, as well as control over its aftermath. It didn’t seem like an excuse hastily fabricated to deceive Elder Guan Yongchong, but rather… she truly had the welfare of the people and the lives of soldiers at heart.

Even so, Elder Min Qianqiu still asked Bai Qingyan: “But is Your Majesty not afraid that if Great Zhou loses… this great kingdom would have to be handed over to others? Your Majesty would also fall from the supreme position to become a minister of the Yan Kingdom? Or even… if the Yan Kingdom emperor or regent is ruthless, they would not leave Your Majesty as a future threat, after all… Great Zhou’s Bai family army is still quite formidable.”

Elder Min Qianqiu’s bright eyes gazed at Bai Qingyan, his gaze piercing as if any falsehood would have nowhere to hide before the old man: “Or perhaps, let this old man ask in another way – if Great Zhou loses this national wager, would Great Zhou truly accept defeat?”

Bai Qingyan straightened her back and respectfully bowed to Elder Min Qianqiu, then spoke: “If Great Zhou loses this time, it would mean that Great Zhou’s national policies are indeed inferior to Yan Kingdom’s. At that time, when the Great Zhou changed rulers and implemented the Yan Kingdom’s governmental policies, it would proceed more smoothly. Otherwise… The Great Zhou has only recently implemented new policies for a short time, and to change and implement new policies again would inevitably cause the people to lose confidence in the court and instead cause unrest! Only if Great Zhou changes rulers and re-implements Great Yan’s policies would the people of Great Zhou more easily accept it.”

Min Qianqiu was stunned, not having thought of this aspect…

He looked at the woman across from him, whose eyes were calm and unruffled, waves surging in his heart: “Your Majesty… are you willing to give up this great kingdom of Great Zhou? After all, Yan Kingdom’s situation is now inferior to Great Zhou. If the Great Zhou wanted to unify the world through conquest and warfare, probably within five years, the entire world would become the Great Zhou’s territory. Your Majesty comes from a military family – surely you do not fear war?”

“But what about after conquest and warfare? The people suffer devastation, soldiers’ blood flows like rivers – how many years would the new Great Zhou need to regain its former glory? Elder Min Qianqiu speaks correctly – Bai Qingyan comes from a military family. Precisely because I come from a military family and have seen much of the people’s displacement and soldiers’ bones piling into mountains, I want even more to unify the world through peaceful means!”

Bai Qingyan’s brows carried a gentle, warm smile.

“If you ask whether I’m reluctant to give up this great kingdom of Great Zhou – yes… I am reluctant! But precisely because I’m reluctant, I’m even more unwilling to let war ignite again on this land! Moreover… this world has never belonged to any one family. It has changed hands several times – once it was surnamed Lin, now it’s surnamed Bai, so why can’t it change to another surname? In Bai Qingyan’s view, as long as this person can govern, as long as this person can ensure the people have adequate food and clothing and don’t suffer from hunger and cold, this person can be the ruler of this world!” Bai Qingyan turned to look at the dragon throne on the high platform. “That position is not about wielding great power to do as one pleases, but about greater responsibility and duty.”

Elder Min Qianqiu knew that Bai Qingyan’s vision and insight were extraordinary, but he hadn’t expected her character to be so magnanimous, truly putting the people first.

Bai Qingyan did not hide anything from her teacher or Elder Min Qianqiu: “Perhaps everyone thinks my desire to unify the world through such peaceful means is too naive, but I still want to try my best. Something that no one has ever attempted – someone must try it to know whether it can be accomplished!”

“The world, long divided, must unite; long united, must divide… How can Your Majesty guarantee that once Yan Kingdom and Great Zhou are united as one, the people will enjoy lasting peace?” Elder Min Qianqiu wasn’t pressing aggressively – since he was writing the Bai family biography, he had to ask these questions.

“Yes, the world long divided must unite, long united must divide…” Bai Qingyan’s brows carried a gentle smile, “But the work of uniting must be done by someone, and the matter of division… that is for future generations to handle. Bai Qingyan dares not make guarantees, but as long as Bai Qingyan lives for one day, she will contribute her part to world peace. Being born human… and born into the Bai family, since I have enjoyed wealth and honor, I must bear corresponding responsibilities.”

Elder Guan Yongchong turned to look at Elder Min Qianqiu, smiling: “How about it? Did this old man… speak wrongly? This direct disciple of mine, from the age of thirteen, has been determined to uphold the Bai family ancestral teachings of protecting and securing the people. This talk of a national wager… is not for personal gambling instincts! Brother Qianqiu, you have truly misjudged this disciple of mine.”